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NORTH BAY — Ontario’s government is working for the people by fighting increased costs to public institutions caused by the imposition of a job-killing federal carbon tax. The financial burden to institutions such as colleges and universities risks impacting the services that the people of Ontario have come to rely upon.

The federal government’s carbon tax is estimated to cost Nipissing University and Canadore College more than $400,000 combined in new taxes by 2022. It will impact Ontario’s colleges and universities by increasing their upfront annual heating costs by approximately $9.8 million in 2019, soaring to $24.7 million in 2022.

“But it will also have significant costs for institutions that provide essential services to the people of Ontario including hospitals, seniors centres and colleges.”

Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, and, Rod Phillips, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, were at Algonquin College in Ottawa today to talk about how the federal government’s carbon tax will impact local colleges and universities by increasing heating costs.

“Ontario’s postsecondary institutions will face increased costs resulting from the federal carbon fuel tax,” said Fullerton. “This tax could result in our institutions redirecting public funding and tuition money towards a federal tax rather than where it is intended to go – on learning and student-focused initiatives.”

The Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan considers the province’s specific priorities, challenges and opportunities, and commits to reducing emissions output 30% by 2030 without imposing a carbon tax on students, patients, families and seniors.

Ontario’s emission performance standards proposal would allow Nipissing and Canadore to opt-in, saving them from the costs of the federal carbon tax program.

“Our plan serves as proof that you can both oppose a carbon tax and continue to do more to fight climate change, you don’t have to choose,” concluded Phillips. “A healthy environment and a healthy economy, Ontario deserves both.”

The Government remains committed to challenging the federal government’s plan to impose a carbon tax on the people of Ontario.

QUICK FACTS

The estimated increased heating cost due to the federal carbon tax to Nipissing University in 2022-23 is $305,996, and is $96,428 for Canadore College. Combined over the next four years starting in 2019-20, the estimated additional costs to the two schools totals $1.13 million.

The federal carbon tax on fuels takes effect in April. Including the additional HST cost, it will increase the price of gasoline in Ontario by 5 cents per litre.

This will rise to 7.5 cents in 2020, 10 cents in 2021, and 12.5 cents per litre in April 2022.

Including the additional HST cost, the federal carbon tax will increase the price of natural gas in Ontario by 4.4 cents per cubic metre.

This increase will rise to 6.6 cents in 2020, 8.8 cents in 2021, and 11.1 cents per cubic metre in April 2022.

Ontario’s case challenging the constitutionality of the federal carbon tax will be heard by the Court of Appeal from April 15 to 18, 2019.

As outlined in Ontario’s environment plan, the province is committed to meeting its share of Canada’s 2030 target while recognizing the unique circumstances of our economy. From 2005 to 2016, Ontario reduced its emissions by about 22 per cent.